Poker is a card game played by a group of players who sit around an oval or circular table. Each player is dealt a card from a shuffled deck, and the player with the highest card becomes the initial dealer. If there is a tie, the dealer is replaced with the next player clockwise from him. The game moves in steps from there, with the objective being to win the opponent’s chips.
There are hundreds of ways to play poker. While rules and variations differ from one casino to another, the basics of poker are the same. Each player makes an ante, or “buy in” bet, to play a round. This is usually a small bet, such as $1, to indicate the player’s intention to play. The dealer will then deal each player two cards, which the player can examine and then decide if to bet or fold. Players can also check, match, or raise the bet.
Poker is played using a standard 52-card pack, sometimes with jokers added. The game is usually played with a single pack, although some games use two different color packs. While one pack is being dealt, the other is being shuffled. The previous dealer will assemble the cards from the dealt pack and shuffle it, and then place them to the left. The shuffled deck is then passed on to the next dealer.